5 things to know about the new Ford Focus

3 Focus body styles will go on sale in 2018, but the U.S. will have to wait

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

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Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

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Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

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Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

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Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

Share

Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

Share

Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

Share

Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

Share

Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

Share

Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

Share

Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

Share

Ford

Ford unveiled the hatch and wagon versions of the all-new global Focus in London this month.

1. On the outside

The new fourth-generation Focus is a global design. Ford has dropped the earlier practice of offering distinctly different models in various markets. Its look represents a gradual evolution of the familiar shape, one that will be applied to a number of body styles -- including a four-door hatchback, a four-door sedan and four-door station wagon.

The new Focus will adopt a cab-backward appearance, featuring a longer hood and a more rakish windshield in comparison with the outgoing model. The front fascia will still feature a large hexagonal grille, but the headlights will be set back a little further along the pointy, aerodynamic nose, transitioning into the front fenders. The side profile, meanwhile, will feature flowing lines accentuating the wheel arches and flowing directly to the wide taillights. The doors will show plenty of surface detail, along with a pronounced line leading from the bottom of the front wheel arch toward a higher finish out back.

"Focus has matured proportionally, to reflect a more premium, sporting silhouette while offering increased comfort and roominess," the automaker says. "The distinctive new silhouette is achieved principally through positioning the A-pillars further rearward; a balanced proportion that allows them to aim toward the center of the front wheel while the muscular sheetmetal of the C-pillars sits squarely over the rear wheels. The resulting longer hood and flowing front fender, coupled to a marked reduction in the wedge of the beltline, is both powerful and elegant, enhancing the car’s premium and sporting character."

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Ford

The Focus is likely to make it to the U.S. in hatch and sedan form only.

2. On the inside

In the cabin, the all-new Focus will feature a floating infotainment screen positioned high and upright on the center stack, with plenty of actual buttons below. Automatic-transmission models will feature a rotary knob positioned flat on the center console, just ahead of the parking brake button. The center stack itself will protrude from the dash a fair bit, which itself will be bisected by a colored accent line.

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Depending on the market, Ford will kick off the range with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine in three states of tune, offering outputs of 83 hp, 98 hp and 123 hp, as well as a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine offering outputs of 148 hp and 179 hp. Two diesel versions will be on the menu in Europe and other markets as well, including a 1.5-liter EcoBlue to be offered in 93 hp and 118 hp flavors, as well as a 2.0-liter EcoBlue offering 148 hp.

When it comes to transmissions, the Focus will offer an eight-speed automatic, paired with either the 123-hp version of the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine or the 148-hp version of the 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, in addition to a couple diesels. A six-speed manual will be the sole transmission for all other versions of the four engines.

"Fuel-efficiency and CO2 emissions from both EcoBoost petrol engines are enhanced using Ford’s industry-first cylinder deactivation system for a three-cylinder engine, which can automatically stop one of the engine’s cylinders when full capacity is not needed, such as when coasting or cruising with light demand on the engine," the automaker says. "The technology can disengage or re-engage one cylinder in 14 milliseconds – 20 times faster than the blink of an eye – with no compromise in performance or refinement."

We wouldn't keep our fingers crossed in hopes of getting the diesels, and most of these engines will only be offered in the European versions of the Focus -- Ford expects to announce the specifics for U.S. market versions closer to their commercial launch in 2019. Keep in mind that the engines mentioned above are the initial powerplants for the European versions of the car, so the U.S. lineup is likely to vary a bit. Ford is also mum at the moment on sportier powerplants that the Focus may eventually offer.

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Ford

The hatch and sedan will make it to the U.S. in 2018.

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The all-new Focus will offer a suite of semi-autonomous systems called Co-Pilot360 that will offer functions such as adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane-keeping assistance and speed sign recognition.

"The new stop-and-go feature enables the ACC system to bring the vehicle to a complete halt in stop-start traffic using up to 50 percent of total braking force and automatically pull away if the stopping duration is less than three seconds," Ford says. "For stopping durations greater than three seconds, the driver can push a steering wheel button or gently apply the accelerator to pull away."

Lane-centering assist, meanwhile, will monitor road markings and will apply a little torque to the steering system to keep the car centered in its lane (at speeds up to 125 mph, wherever such freedom is available), when the adaptive cruise control system is in use.

Ford will also offer Evasive Steering Assist, which is designed to detect slow-moving and stopped vehicles ahead and help the driver steer around them, in addition to cross-traffic alert and a blind-spot information system. The new Focus will also offer an Adaptive Front Lighting System that will adjust the intensity and the headlight beam angle to the driving environment, in addition to a glare-free high beam function that is designed to avoid blinding cars in the oncoming lane.

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The sedan version of the Focus was shown in China, where it will be produced for the U.S. market.

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The Focus will go on sale in China and Europe in 2018 but won't make it to the U.S. until 2019.

Even though the new Focus will be a global model featuring as much unified hardware as possible while cutting down on the number of available versions, the number of body styles and engines that will make it to the U.S. market will not be all that great.

You can bet that the hatchback and the sedan will be offered stateside, but the station wagon is not likely to make it to the U.S. due to consumer tastes. The sedan version of the Focus for the U.S. market will be produced in China, as Ford mentioned in 2017.

"Ford has reduced the number of orderable configurations by as much as 92 percent versus the previous Focus, reducing from up to 360 configurations to as few as 26, depending on the global market," the automaker says. "This complexity reduction helps Ford lower and control costs while ensuring Focus customers can more easily and quickly find the model that meets their needs."

Stay tuned: We'll bring you more information on the new Ford Focus when we get it, along with a first drive as soon as Ford lets us get behind the wheel.

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The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

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The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.

Share

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 that now produces 460 hp at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. That’s a bump of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft of torque over last year's model.